The European Parliament has strongly condemned the murder of Rafig Tagi in Azerbaijan and expressed its concern over the safety of Samir Sadagatoglu, in a resolution adopted on Thursday.

In the resolution, MEPs condemned the murder of Tagi, a prominent Azerbaijani writer and journalist, and expressed their concern over the safety of Sadagatoglu, the editor of the Sanat newspaper.

They welcomed the move by the Azerbaijani government to set up a special working group to investigate the murder of Rafiq Tagi and called on the authorities to ensure that the investigation is thorough and effective, and that perpetrators are prosecuted and brought to justice. At the same time, Azerbaijani authorities must to do their utmost to protect the life and safety of Samir Sadagatoglu, the resolution said.

MEPs finally insist that threats and incitement to violence against individuals expressing views deemed ‘offensive’ by some adherents of religions and beliefs systems are "totally unacceptable", that those responsible for such threats and incitement must be prosecuted, and that the freedom of expression and safety of the threatened individuals must be fully guaranteed. (ENPI Info Centre)